Writing-pad.



F. L. HIGGINS.

WRITING PAD.

APPLICATION. FILED MAI/21.1911.

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'WRITING-PAD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 15, 1918.

Application filed May 21, 1917. Serial No. 170,012.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FOSTER L. HIGGINS,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Milo, in the county of Piscataquis and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in NVriting-Pads; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to desk attachments comprising writing pads and the pad com prising my invention is designed especially to be used in schools and the like and is so constructed as to be disposed on the top of a desk in the most efficient manner.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a writing pad having` means whereby a sheet of writing paper will be correctly held on the pad with respect to the pad and to the body of' the writer, forming a means for educating the pupils as to the correct manner of holding the writing paper.

Another essential object of the invention is to provide a pad of this character having means thereon whereby the'pupil using the same will be taught to hold the body of the pen or pencil employed in proper angled relation with respect to the writing paper.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pad ofrthis character which is adapted for general use and in which means are provided whereby writing paper em* ployed on the pad may be provided in portions desired by means of reference to separately distinguishable guide lines employed on the pad which guide lines may be utilized as designated by an instructor.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a pad equipped with means just described and having means thereon whereby writing paper may be held at all times at the proper angle with respect to the pad and the body of the Writer and in which the paper may be cross-ruled at the correct angle.

With thesegeneral objects in view and with others, subordinate, which will appear from the description, my invention resides in the novel construction, combinationandv arrangement of parts to be more fully hereinafter described and claimed when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application and in which:

Figure l is a top plan View illustrating my improved pad as applied to the top of a desk;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the pad on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The greatest trouble at the present time in instruction as to the correct manner of writing as taught in the schools, has been in the faulty angling of the paper by the pupil and the incorrect manner of holding the pen or pencil employed. It has been found necessary that practically constant individual attention is required in order to overcome these faulty characteristics, and in a large school room it will be readily seen, that such a requirement would necessitate considerable time and eifort on the part of an instructor, and to overcome these objections I have constructed my improved pad with these faults in view and the pad when utilized will be found to be a self instructor as by its use the individual attention of an instructor will not be necessary.

In detail the invention comprises a substantially rectangular pad P to be applied to the flat top of the standard desk employed in the public schools at the present time and having one corner thereof cut away to provide a diagonal edge E, in order to receive the ink well usually disposed at the upper right hand corner of the desk. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated this approved form of pad but it is perfectly obvious that the pad may be constructed of any shape desired and suitable to individual conditions and it is not my intention to limit myself specifically to any shape or construction of the pad. The pad is equipped with series of diagonally tending vari-colored guide lines; the lines of each series being disposed on the pad in different graduation relative to the remaining series and the component lines of each series being of similar color.

In this improved form I construct the pad with a diagonally extending black base guide line BZ disposed inwardly from the edge E and at the correct angle which a sheet of writing paper should be held with respect to the pad and consequently to the body of the writer. At equi-distant spaced intervals from the base guide line BZ I pro BZ so Vas lto divide the paper Vinto'three` equal parts are `parallel red lines It, the

vide a series of parallel similar black lines BZ. Spaced inwardly-of the pad at anlinterval substantiallyl equal to the standard width of the writing paper employed, I provide a black guide line BZ which-extends entirely across the pad, said line in connection with the base guide line BZ forming side guide lines for the sheet of paper to be employed thereon.

The intervening black lines` areferased throughout a portion of their length to provide spaces 'S for the vreception of a sheet of writing paper therein. The edges ofthe lines-terminate in lines disposed at right angles to the `-guide lines BZ and BZ and form edges for the spaces S.

In order to maintainthe sheet of writing paper in proper relation on the pad I pro vide a flap of'a suitable flexible material designatedF suitably secured to the surfacei of the pad and extending-.fat right angles to Y the guide lines BZ andBZl al-ong theadjacent edges of the intermediate black-lines, by stitching or any preferred means. -This construction will serve to provide a flap whereby the edge of the sheet of writing paper may be inserted thereunder and owing to the vright angleddisposition of the flapl with respectl to the guide lines the paper'will.

be held in properly angled relation with l'. respect to the body of the writer. The space S between the guide linesfBZ and BZl is of ordinarily suflicient dimension `to receive the standard' sheet of writing paper,`v and the lines BZ intermediate, are spaced lsufficiently so as to divide the'paper into.four equal portions. Equi-distantly: spaced between each of the black vlines I provide -a series of parallel brown lines B7' which serve "to di-` vide the paper into eight equal portions. Suitably spaced from they blackguidefline red line adj acent'the central guide line BZ extending entirely across' the space S and f base guideline'BZ" is graduated byvtransversely extending guide lines C, disposed in parallel relation to the flap vF and in parallel spaced relationfto one'anothe'r, andthe cen-VM tral black guide line BZ is graduated lwith a similarly alinedseries ofguide lines. thereon to provider forv equi-dlstant cross rul-v ing of the sheet of paper when the same is applied' in the jspace between 'the' respective guide lines. It is found preferable t-o place small reference characters such as the letters a, b, c and @Z at the corners of the space S as clearly illustrated in Fig. l so that the y various lines may be referred to by letters rand the space referred to by the Combination of the letters". In the application of my iin-fc proved padfit is merely necessary for the instructor to announce that the paper is to be placed .at one edgebeneath: the` flap and Y f with one-side edge in alinementfwith the. line.- Z) c. kThis will dispose the paper at the correct angle and owing to its 'engagement with-..1

the iap it will be maintained thereunder and secured'in the desired'angle. I have found it preferable to extend the red randwgrecnr .lines'rfor relatively short distancesfandfto extend the black and:brownlines-entirelyT to the edges of the pad yas fit will prevent any confusion. Then writing the pupil will f be instructed to hold the bodyfof the pen-For la pencil employed in aline'mentwitlrthe-black v1 and brownglineslwhich will disposet-hezbodyf lof the pen at the' correctaangleto the sheet of vwriting paper From continualr use of :the

pad with the instructions given, Vthe pupil will gradually.become'laccustomed to the cor.- I

rect lposition of holding. the penwandf-the paperand the :pad will thus serve ias-'a self'- educator for; imparting thislcorre'ctmanner f of using the' same# merely necessary forvthef-instructorf,if it is In certain. exercises =-.where it is desiredjto :rulefithe paperat is desired to rule the -paper'into equal'thirds,=

to announcethe -facti that the paperwilllbe ruledlalongthered "linesav lThe pupi-lHwill---i then place a ruler in alineme'nt with .the

various red lines and by. drawing the' pencil valong the "edge Vof the ruler, the paperwilli'.- be equally dividedinto threeportions-11If desired to divide the paperinto equal sixths, Y. it is merely necessary to announce-that the paperwill be divided alongthe `red and green lines which. will accomplish-the de` ysired results. For -dividingfthe paperintol halves, fourths-or eighths,'vthe respective: Y

black and brown lineslare-employedf lVhcnv it is desired to cross rule the paper aproperr designation is given to the requisite *cro-sslguide linesHt-o produce the-resultlrequired This manner yof application and mode-fof operation ,will obviate any 'necessity fori in-T dividual instruction and will provide'an efli-y 'cient -means whereby a largeV number of pupilswill be correctly' instructed in theY 'shortest possible space of time, as to the proper manner of holding the'pen. and lpencilv and paper. By reference 'to the `various Vvcolors of the lines, when it is desired to rulef the paper,v any possibility -ofthe :various v papers being'jruled differently and incorrectly, will be entirely eiliminatedkFurtheufmore by using the l'black central-'guidevlinef BZ, a computing base is provided whereby the paper may be directed to the right or left, the instructor announcing the designated red, brown or green or black line to which the edge of the paper is to be moved.

It willbe seen that by this pad I have provided a most efficient means whereby accurate instruction may be imparted to a very large number of pupils without necessitating individual care or effort. It is to be understood that this pad may be applied in a various number of uses and in many diierent forms, the details as to the shape and the materials used in the construction thereof being perfectly immaterial as it is obvious that any changes in these details and shapes may be made to suit individual conditions and I do not intend to limit myself to any specific forms. I have found it preferable, however, to employ bristol board for the pad and for the flap, and furthermore it is preferable to stitch the iiap to the base of the pad.

Reserving the right to make any changes or alterations as will fall within the scope of the invention as outlined in the following claims,

I claim:

1. A device as described comprising a writing pad for desks, said pad having a writing sheet receiving space thereon and a series of substantially diagonally arranged guide lines thereon extending from the edges of said space to the edges of the pad, for guiding alinement with the body of a pen or the like, whereby the pen will be maintained in proper angled relation with respect to the writing sheet in the space.

2. A device as described comprising a writing pad for desks, said pad having a writing sheet receiving space thereon and a series of substantially diagonally arranged guide lines thereon extending from the edges of said space to the edges of the pad, or guiding alinement with the body of a pen or the like, whereby the pen will be maintained in proper angled relation with respect to the writing sheet in the space, and a retaining flap secured on said pad at right angles to said guide lines and at one edge of the writing sheet receiving space, whereby to receive an edge of a sheet thereunder and retain the same in proper angled relation on the pad.

A device as described comprising a writing pad Jfor desks, said pad having a writing sheet receiving space therein, series of vari-colored guide lines, in parallel relation adjacent the edge of the space, `the lines oi' each series being differently graduated relative to the remaining series, and the component lines of each series being of similar color whereby the writing sheet in said space may be divided in proportions as desired by reference to the color oi' the guide lines.

l. A device as described comprising a writing pad for desks, said pad having a writing sheet receiving space thereon, a retaining iiap secured on said pad, diagonally arranged to receive an edge of the writing sheet thereunder and maintain the same in proper angled relation to the pad, series oil graduatedV vari-colored guide lines on said Hap, each series of lines being of different gradation relative to the remaining lines, the component lines of each series being similar in color, whereby a writing sheet may be divided in proportions as desired by reference to the color of the guide lines.

5. A device as described comprising a writing pad for desks, said pad having a writing sheet receiving space thereon, a retaining flap secured on said pad, diagonally arranged to receive an edge oi the writing sheet thereunder and maintain the same in proper angled relation to the pad, series of graduated vari-colored guide lines on said flap, each series of lines being of different graduation relative to the remaining series, the component lines of each series being similar in color, whereby a writing sheet may be divided in proportions as desired by reference to the color oi' the guide lines, and a series of graduated guide lines disposed parallel with said flap at one side of the sheet receiving space for cross-ruling of a writing sheet when applied therein.

6. A device as described comprising a writing pad for desks, said pad having thereon series of substantially diagonally extending vari-colored guide lines in parallel relation, the lines of each of said series being differently graduated relative to the remaining series, the component lines of each series being of similar color, whereby a writv ing sheet on said pad may be divided into portions as desired by reference to the color of the guide lines, certain of said lines serving as directed bases for adjustment of the writ-ing sheet on the pad whereby the said sheet will be correctly angled with respect to the pad.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FOSTER L. HIGGINS. Vitnesses:

HERBERT I-I. I-IovnY, IV. I). NEWMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

